COLUMBIA, Tenn. — Maury Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Vanderbilt LifeFlight and Columbia State Community College will host the tenth annual EMS Night Out Helicopter and Safety Expo on Tuesday, May 17, at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at Columbia State Community College near the Hickman Building in celebration of National EMS Week.

The EMS Night Out Helicopter Expo will consist of emergency aircraft exhibits from Vanderbilt LifeFlight, Air Evac Lifeteam, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Metro Nashville Police Department, and Huntsville MedFlight. Personnel from these units will present their respective aircrafts and discuss the mission and capabilities of the units.

Numerous other surrounding emergency agencies will also be on hand, including Vanderbilt, Maury Regional EMS, Maury County Hazardous Materials Team, Columbia Fire Department, Maury County Fire Department, Maury County Emergency Management Agency, Tennessee State Parks, and several local law enforcement agencies. Educational booths will include Maury Regional Medical Center, Vanderbilt and Columbia State Community College.

Attendees are asked to bring a nonperishable food or cleaning supply item to benefit area residents affected by recent severe storms and flooding. Maury Regional EMS will pair with area emergency management agencies to distribute the items.

The expo is open to the community; but emergency medical technicians, critical care nurses, paramedics and occupational medicine personnel are especially encouraged to attend. The program is free and the evening will include a meal. There is no need to register. Each participant will be awarded .2 Continuing Education Units. For more information, contact Danny Fleming, Maury Regional EMS education coordinator, at 931.490.4650.

About Maury Regional EMS:Maury Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has an A-rated department consisting of paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are state certified to provide the highest quality emergency medical care. Maury Regional EMS in Columbia utilizes six ambulances, four that are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ambulances are located at the Earl Paxton Building in Columbia and at fire stations in Mt. Pleasant, Neapolis and Culleoka. Maury Regional Emergency Medical Services has been designated as the Regional Communications Center (RCC) for medical and EMS communications in the South Central Region in Tennessee.

About Vanderbilt LifeFlight:Vanderbilt LifeFlight is the critical care air medical transport service of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. LifeFlight utilizes three American Eurocopter ec145 helicopters, two American Eurocopter ec135 helicopters, a King Air 200 airplane, and specialized ambulances. With bases strategically placed in Lebanon, Tullahoma, Clarksville, and Mt. Pleasant, LifeFlight is able to provide rapid access to definitive care for all of Middle Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, and Northern Alabama. Staffed by highly trained flight nurses, flight paramedics, communicators and pilots, LifeFlight provides the highest level of care during transport.